Part of the plan involves the hiring of an outreach worker who would work nights to interact with homeless individuals and try to ultimately steer them into a better arrangement, such as a shelter or existing housing for people with little or no means.

Neil's plan has three phases and will begin immediately. He said the deputies will begin patrolling the courthouse and other county buildings during the overnight hours.

Sheriff's deputies will attempt to get to know the homeless and what their needs are before another outreach worker can be hired.

Phase two will involve community faith leaders. In about four weeks, Neil said his deputies will remove anyone who remains on the property of a county building overnight.

The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Commission wants a solution that offers the homeless what they need as opposed to merely dispersing them onto the streets.

The effort follows some complaints about homeless people urinating on the courthouse steps.

The final phase will include cleaning around county buildings and repairing any damage caused by the homeless.

On any given night, there are an estimated 20 to 30 people who camp out and sleep on the steps, Neil said.

“It may be a little more than it has been in the past,” according to Josh Spring of the Homeless Coalition. “But, essentially nothing big has changed.”

There have been meetings about the situation this summer involving the Sheriff’s Department, Hamilton County, the Homeless Coalition, Drop Inn Center, Talbert House, Legal Aid and others.

“It’s really great that county government wants to do this,” Spring said.

Neil said restroom facilities will remain available for the homeless in the lobby of the Justice Center as well as several portable units.

The goal would be for the new hire to get to know as many of the homeless folks as possible, form a relationship of trust and eventually connect them to housing options that they may not know about.

Neil said he hoped the city would contribute $20,000 to the $40,000 already allocated for the new position.

County Commissioner Greg Hartmann said the funds come from a county levy passed in 2012.

Social service agencies know it’s a matter that will require time and understanding, an alternative to simply forcing the homeless off the steps and into the night.

“It’s a very good step in the right direction,” Spring said.

Copyright 2013 byWLWT.comAll rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.